Community Forestry Capacity Grants

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, through the Florida Forest Service, is administering the Community Forestry Capacity Grants with federal support from the USDA Forest Service under CFDA 10.664. The program is intended to provide financial assistance for urban and community forestry activities within Florida. Its primary purpose is to improve management of community forests and support the retention and expansion of tree canopy. The notice identifies benefits such as improved property values, tourism appeal, physical and mental health, stormwater management, energy conservation, air and water quality, public safety, and storm preparedness. FDACS anticipates making $670,000 available through this opportunity and anticipates 26 awards. Funding is available across five project categories: public tree canopy improvement through tree planting; public tree inventories or urban tree canopy assessments; urban forest management planning; urban forestry information and education; and development of public tree nurseries. Eligible activities include planting trees in public areas, establishing food forests or urban orchards, conducting inventories and canopy assessments, preparing urban forest management plans, developing educational programs, providing workforce development related to green industry careers, and establishing small-scale public tree nurseries. No more than 60 percent of available program funding will be allocated to tree planting practices. Grant requests must be at least $5,000 and may not exceed $50,000. Projects must be for work not currently budgeted and may not replace existing commitments. The program contains detailed spending and implementation restrictions. Tree planting grant funds may be used for the purchase and installation of trees, while shrubs and ground covers may be counted only as matching costs. Maintenance and removal of dead, damaged, or living trees are not reimbursable. Tree planting projects must follow specified size, species diversity, quality, invasive species, irrigation, and cost requirements, including a maximum allowable cost of $600 per individual tree or palm and a required 60-day grow-in period before final reimbursement. Travel and per diem are not eligible. Invasive species removal is not reimbursable but may be used as match. No overhead costs will be paid from grant funds, although documented overhead of up to 5 percent of total project cost may be used as part of the local match. Nursery funding cannot be used to purchase land. Funding is reimbursement based, no advance payments are provided, and costs incurred before a fully executed agreement and written FDACS authorization are ineligible. Qualified applicants are nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, state governments, and Native American tribal governments. The scope of work must be performed within Florida. The notice defines local government to include county governments, municipalities, school board districts, and independent special districts. Nonprofit applicants must provide documentation verifying official nonprofit status under Chapter 617, Florida Statutes. Applicants must also have an active Unique Entity ID in the System for Award Management by the application deadline and maintain it for the duration of the award. The required match is 50 percent, described as a 1:1 match. Cost share may consist of cash contributions, donated services, donated equipment, or donated property, and reimbursement requests must document the required match. Applicants must submit an original signed application packet and upload the complete application and supporting documentation electronically through the FDACS Community Forestry Capacity Grants submission location by the deadline. The complete package includes the Coversheet/Application for Federal Financial Assistance Subaward, Key Contact Information, Project Narrative, Scope of Work, Budget Plan Narrative, Budget Plan, Key Person/Staff, Performance Site/Locations, evidence of an active SAM.gov Unique Entity ID, Assurances Subrecipient Award, Certification Regarding Lobbying, Certification Regarding Debarments, Suspension and Ineligibility, and Certification Statement. A resolution or letter approving the proposal and authorizing execution of grant documents is also required. Category-specific attachments apply, including maps, photographs, site plans, maintenance plans, approvals, or other narratives depending on the proposed activity. FDACS forms must be used, required forms and signatures must be complete, and late applications are rejected. Eligible applications are evaluated on demonstrated need for cost-share assistance, well-defined goals and objectives, technical correctness, cost effectiveness, promotional value, and completeness. Demonstrated need, goals and objectives, technical correctness, and cost effectiveness are each worth up to 20 points, while promotional value and application completeness are each worth up to 10 points. FDACS states that priority in funding allocation will be given to communities showing the greatest demonstrated need. Five evaluators with relevant program experience are expected to conduct the review. FDACS may recommend partial funding and may negotiate or adjust the final award amount and scope before award. The application period identified in the notice ran from September 2, 2025 through October 20, 2025, with applications due October 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions were accepted through October 6, 2025 at grants@fdacs.gov, and applicants were instructed to direct grant questions to that purchasing office rather than the program manager. Evaluation was scheduled from October 20, 2025 through December 1, 2025, with award notice anticipated December 1, 2025. The Award Information section lists an anticipated period of performance of February 1, 2026 through May 1, 2027, while the Key Dates table separately lists an anticipated subrecipient agreement period of February 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Successful applicants have 30 days after receipt to fully execute the subrecipient agreement. The notice does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule.

Demonstrate economic need clearly, especially for small rural communities, underserved neighborhoods, or fiscally distressed communities; state well-defined goals and objectives that expand or complement existing urban forestry efforts; demonstrate competent project supervision and technical compliance; explain expenditures and maximize results per grant dollar; include written estimates to strengthen cost effectiveness; provide a strategy for publicizing the project; submit every required form, signature, and attachment; maintain an active SAM.gov UEI; upload the application before the final deadline rather than waiting until the last moment